XVI THE OUNCE ON THE HEEL. 



liuntsman expressed it, " as smooth as oil;" when "done," the loin 

 Vmmps against the saddle, and the knees are raised with a spasmodic 

 jerk. 



When I come to the consideration of the effects of v/eight on the 

 feet of trotters, I will give some illustrations which I have met in 

 my own practice, and those Avhich have come under my observation 

 in that of others. It is needless to s})end time in showing that race- 

 horses can run faster with weight off their feet, as that is acknowl- 

 edged by all whose experience is worth referring to ; but the cause of 

 it has been more or less a mysteiy. Heretofore I thought it was 

 entirely owing to the change in action, and that a few ounces, more 

 or less, on the feet of so powei'ful an animal as a horse could not 

 load him to such a difference. But now I firmly believe that even if 

 the action were unchanged, the actual difference in weight would be 

 detrimental, and that the ounce on the heel nuist haA^e its effect. 

 As I progress, there will be comparisons between the action of the 

 race-horse and that of tlie trotter, and to avoid repetition we will 

 now see what the photographs teach in relation to the trotting gait. 



